RNC Announces First Wave Of State Director Hires
Key State Director Hires Lay Groundwork For Most Expansive Midterm Field Program In Party History
WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced the completion of the first wave of state director hires in 17 key states across the country as a part of the most expansive midterm field program in the Party’s history.
"These hires represent the long-planned evolution of the RNC’s permanent data-driven field program that has been on the ground virtually uninterrupted in key states since 2013," said Chairwoman McDaniel. "We are committed to winning elections and will hold nothing back to ensure we protect the near historic number of Republicans holding office at all levels across the country. As our candidates emerge from their primary races, they will inherit an RNC field program years in the making to help push them to victory."
Alex Melendez, Arizona State Director
With almost a decade of experience working in politics, Alex Melendez has worked for Republican candidates in nearly every region of the United States. Prior to taking on his new role, Alex most recently worked on a number of successful congressional campaigns in Florida. Alex also served as a regional field director for Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s 2013 campaign for Virginia Governor, Governor Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, and Florida Governor Rick Scott’s 2010 campaign.
Adam Johnson, Colorado State Director
Adam Johnson's political experience began in 2002 working on the successful re-election of Governor Bill Owens in Colorado. Since that time, Adam has been involved in nearly a dozen political campaigns from local city council races to managing statewide elections. Most recently Adam served as Victory's Regional Field Director in the West Metro Region in Colorado.
Andrew Brey, Florida State Director
Andrew Brey spent the 2016 cycle as Political Director for Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson—one of the biggest upsets of the 2016 cycle. Prior to Wisconsin, Andrew worked on Senator Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida. Andrew’s previous Florida experience includes time with the Republican Party of Florida as a field director for Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry’s campaign as well as Governor Rick Scott’s reelection. His prior experience includes municipal, state senate, gubernatorial, and congressional campaigns in Nebraska and North Carolina.
Alex Johnson, Indiana State Director
Alex most recently worked as the Statewide Field Director for the Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee during the 2016 election cycle winning 70 of 100 seats in the House. He previously worked as a Project Manager for Mark It Red working numerous local races throughout Indiana. In 2014, he managed two campaigns in Indiana that defeated longtime incumbent Democrats.
Joshua Findlay, Georgia State Director
Josh Findlay joins the RNC with a decade of successful grassroots campaign experience across Georgia. He spent the last two and a half years serving as the Chief Legal Counsel and District Director for his hometown representative, Congressman Jody Hice. In 2013 Josh co-founded War Room Strategies, a full-service political consulting firm with clients at all levels of government throughout the eastern United States.
Joe Turcotte, Maine State Director
Joe is a seasoned veteran, who recently served as the Political Director for the Maine Republican Party since January of 2015. In this position, Joe was a key player in helping reelect Congressman Bruce Poliquin and capture President Trump’s historic victory in the Second Congressional District. Joe has a wide-range of experience in Maine politics, starting from his position as the State Field Director for Maine GOP focusing on Governor LePage’s re-election in 2014.
Lx Fangonilo, Michigan State Director
Before joining the RNC, Lx Fangonilo most recently served as the State Field Director for the Michigan Republican Party focused on protecting the Republican majority in the State House of Representatives and the overall success of our Republican nominees in the 2016 election cycle. Before moving to Michigan, Lx worked in both Virginia and California for candidates and elected officials running for City Council, State House, State Senate, and Congressional offices.
Alex Meyer, Missouri State Director
Alex previously served the RNC in the Data Department as Political Data Support and Data Analyst. Before joining the RNC, he worked for the Presidential Inaugural Committee heading the efforts to organize the countless volunteers for the events leading up to Inauguration Day. He also served as Regional Field Director for Sen. Roy Blunt's successful reelection campaign during the 2016 cycle.
Brandon Zanon, Montana State Director
Brandon Zanon most recently managed the field operation as Director of Field Operations for Stothert for Mayor in Omaha, NE immediately after serving as Regional Field Director for the Ohio Republican Party in 2016. Before Ohio he worked for the Michigan Republican Party where he got his start as a field operative as Lansing Victory Director before transitioning to Youth Director for the State Party in 2014. Previous to volunteering in the 2012 presidential race, he served as Operations Director for a municipal ambulance service and was the Foreman for a large produce farm.
Dan Coats, Nevada State Director
Dan Coats most recently served as a Deputy State Director with the Republican Party of Florida during the 2016 cycle. Prior to working in Florida, Dan served campaigns in Georgia including Senator Johnny Isakson, Governor Nathan Deal, Secretary of State Brian Kemp, and other local, state, and federal campaigns. Dan has a degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia.
Ashley Walukevich, New Hampshire State Director
Ashley is an experienced political operative who most recently spent the 2016 cycle working as a Regional Field Director for the New Hampshire Republican State Committee. Prior to 2016, Ashley spent several years working for Senator Susan Collins in her DC and Maine Offices, and assisted with securing her re-election in 2014. She spent the 2012 cycle working for the Florida Republican Party as a Field Director for Governor Romney's Presidential Campaign.
Robert Andrews, North Carolina State Director
Robert Andrews previously worked on Pat McCrory’s re-election campaign in North Carolina. Prior to that, he has worked on a variety of local and congressional campaigns across the state of North Carolina from 2011 to 2016. He has worked in both the State House and State Senate as a legislative assistant, and is a proud graduate of Appalachian State University.
Rob Lagergren, Ohio State Director
Rob most recently served as RNC State Director in Michigan for the 2016 Election Cycle. Before joining the RNC, he worked for the Michigan Republican Party and held numerous positions with the Ohio Republican Party for several victory cycles.
Brittney Robinson, Pennsylvania State Director
Prior to serving as the State Director for Pennsylvania, Brittney was the Deputy Director for the RNC in the GA06 special election. Before joining the RNC Political team in 2015, she worked on campaigns in Virginia, North Carolina, Louisiana and Wisconsin.
Kristy Wilkinson, Texas State Director
Kristy recently served as the Regional Political Coordinator for the Republican National Committee during the 2016 Presidential Cycle. During this cycle she helped maintain and manage the operational needs for 12 states including 4 targeted states: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. Kristy started her political career as a Regional Field Director in Louisiana for the greater New Orleans region focusing on Congressman Bill Cassidy’s successful bid for US Senate.
Elliott Echols, Virginia State Director
Elliott most recently ran the RNC’s Victory operation in the GA-06 special election, which was the most expensive congressional race in US history. Elliott and his team helped Congresswoman Karen Handel get elected to replace former Congressman Dr. Tom Price. During the 2016 election cycle Elliott started and led the RNC’s Republican Leadership Initiative (RLI) program that trained over 6,000 young operatives and activists in 33 states. The RLI program continues to be utilized this year in preparation for the 2018 mid-terms. Echols worked in state and local politics in Georgia before joining the RNC in 2013.
Phil Curry, Wisconsin State Director
Prior to serving as the Republican National Committee’s State Director in Wisconsin, Phil has been working for the Republican Party of Wisconsin since 2012. Most recently, Curry was hired as RPW’s Political Director in January of 2017, and worked as RPW’s Deputy Political Director during the 2016 election cycle.
